Swiss to have a seat on proposed EU migration council
Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter with her French counterpart Gérald Darmanin on Thursday.
Keystone / Stephanie Lecocq
Switzerland is set to participate in a new “Schengen Council” proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, whose goal is to better coordinate migration policy in Europe.
Macron presented the idea at a meeting of European Union (EU) interior ministers in Lille on Wednesday and Thursday, where Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter was also present.
The body – which could meet for the first time in March – would act as a platform for Schengen members to quickly react to crises such as that on the EU border with Belarus, where thousands of migrants tried to cross over to Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania late last year.
“This Council can become the face of a strong, protective Europe that is comfortable with controlling its borders and therefore its destiny,” said Macron.
Switzerland, as a non-member of the EU but as a member of the Schengen travel area, would “naturally be part [of the council]”, Karin Keller-Sutter said. Earlier this week she received a “positive response” from Macron regarding the Swiss role.
More
More
Parliament approves strengthening European border agency
This content was published on
The Swiss parliament has backed greater commitment to protecting the external borders of Europe’s Schengen zone.
Swiss relations with Brussels have been difficult after the dropping of a draft framework deal last year, and various sectors – notably research – have seen cooperation fall away.
Keller-Sutter said however that “if there is one area where cooperation is necessary, it is security and migration”. The protection of Schengen’s external borders is a central concern for both the EU and Switzerland, she said, echoing Macron’s point that effective border control is the price to pay for continued free movement within Europe.
Frontex, the body responsible for policing the EU’s external borders, is naturally a key part of this; however, Switzerland’s continued financing of it is up for a nationwide vote in May. For Keller-Sutter, voting “no” to Frontex would mean leaving the Schengen area.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
This content was published on
By 8am on Saturday, an 11-kilometre queue had formed at the Gotthard tunnel’s northern entrance, with drivers facing nearly two hours of delays.
Plant-based meat market in Switzerland set to grow to CHF361 million by 2030
This content was published on
Switzerland’s market for plant-based meat alternatives has a potential value of around CHF 242 million this year, though it remains a niche market.
This content was published on
The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.
This content was published on
Spain ended Switzerland’s run in the Women’s Euros on Friday, but fans in Bern made history with the largest supporters’ march in Women’s Euros history.
This content was published on
Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.
This content was published on
Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.
Fewer attacks on Swiss ATMs but their future remains uncertain
This content was published on
Bank ATMs in Switzerland are less prone to attacks by criminals, but their future remains uncertain given the less active use of cash by the population.
This content was published on
A series of rockfalls occurred above the village of Brienz between 9 and 12 July. According to the municipality of Albula, the overall situation remains tense. Several people disregarded the ban on entering the area around the village.
This content was published on
Arosa Bergbahnen achieved the highest figure in its 95-year history in the 2024/25 financial year with net revenue of CHF 37 million. Arosa Lenzerheide was able to capitalise on strengths such as snow reliability and the size of the ski area in a long winter season, the company announced on Thursday.
Justice minister calls for reforms to Schengen/Dublin
This content was published on
Karin Keller-Sutter has demanded a rapid reform of the Schengen/Dublin agreements, which govern free movement and asylum issues.
This content was published on
Although Switzerland is not a member state of the EU it is part of the Schengen zone, forcing it to adopt the new procedures, which are aimed at making other countries repatriate failed asylum seekers. From February 2, 2020, the cost of obtaining a visa for the Schengen zone to visit Switzerland will rise from…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.